Italy v Ireland: Jacob Stockdale to make a comeback after two years as Iain Henderson leads the team

Stockdale last represented Ireland against Japan in a match held in July 2021.
World Cup practice match – Italy v Ireland
Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, August 5 Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary, match summary and post-game reaction on the Sport Newes Center’s website & app

Jacob Stockdale is set to represent Ireland again after a two-year hiatus in the World Cup practice match against Italy this Saturday. His Ulster team-mate, Iain Henderson, will serve as the team captain for the game in Dublin.

Stockdale hasn’t played in a Test match since his try-scoring display against Japan in July 2021.

Due to the suspension of captain Johnny Sexton, Jack Crowley will start the game as fly-half.

Ulster players Stuart McCloskey, Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole, alongside Stockdale and Henderson, have been selected.

Andy Farrell, the head coach, has provided several less experienced players from his 42-man squad with an opportunity to prove their worth for inclusion in his final 33-member team for France, with practice games against England and Samoa lined up.

Ulster’s hooker, Tom Stewart, is expected to make his first appearance for Ireland, having been named as a reserve along with fellow debutantes Ciaran Frawley and Calvin Nash.

Farrell sees Stewart as a ‘silent assassin’ and ‘one for the future’.

This game presents a significant opportunity for Stockdale to compete for a permanent starting position in Farrell’s team ahead of the World Cup.

Stockdale, who was an exceptional player in Ireland’s 2018 Grand Slam victory, was part of this year’s Six Nations team but did not play, and he was not included in last year’s tour of New Zealand.

The 27-year-old will join a reconfigured back three, with Munster’s Keith Earls earning his 99th cap – his first since last year’s tour in New Zealand – on the opposite wing, and Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien playing as full-back.

Regarding Stockdale, Farrell said: “He has had a few obstacles in terms of injuries and form, but he’s been striving to bounce back from that. He joined the camp six weeks ago, with a fresh mindset and determination. So far, his transfer of skills in training under pressure has been impressive. We’re excited to see how he handles the game’s additional pressure and meets his own expectations.”

Henderson, who previously led Ireland against France in 2021, will be accompanied in the second row by Leinster’s Joe McCarthy, who will be making his first start.

Jack Crowley, who debuted for Ireland against Fiji last November, is chosen over Ross Byrne and Frawley as out-half due to Sexton serving his three-match suspension for misconduct.

23-year-old Crowley forms an all-Munster half-back partnership with Craig Casey.

McCloskey will join Robbie Henshaw, who missed most of the Six Nations season due to injury, in the midfield, while O’Toole and Herring will form the front row with Munster’s Dave Kilcoyne.

Henshaw, along with back-rowers Caelan Doris and Ryan Baird, are the only ones retained from Ireland’s starting team in the Grand Slam victory over England in Dublin in March.

Paolo Odogwu and lock Dino Lamb, both born in England, will make their Test debuts for Italy as part of head coach Kieran Crowley’s nine alterations from last week’s loss to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Former Sale and Wasps player Odogwu, who is picked on the right wing, previously trained with his home country during Eddie Jones’ tenure without being capped, while Harlequins’ former England Under-20 international Lamb will play in the second row.

Team Rosters

Ireland: O’Brien; Earls, Henshaw, McCloskey, Stockdale; Crowley, Casey; Kilcoyne, Herring, O’Toole; Henderson (capt), McCarthy; Baird, Doris, Conan.

Substitutes: Stewart, Healy, Furlong, Beirne, Prendergast, Blade, Frawley, Nash.

Italy: Allan; Odogwu, Brez, Menoncello, Ioane; Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Riccioni; Lamb, Ruzza (capt); Negri, Zuliani, Halafihi.

Substitutes: Bigi, Buonfiglio, Ferrari, Cannone, Lamaro, Cannone, Fusco, Pani.

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